Table of contents

In focus

Young girl dressed in a striped t-shirt and jean shorts, standing holding a garden hose watering a green lawn
Information for Albertans

Learn about the current drought conditions in the province and what you can do to conserve water.

Saint Mary Reservoir - waterbody surrounded by land and rocks
Information for water licence holders and municipalities

Find out about the impacts of drought on communities and the principles of sound water management.

Irrigation machine spraying water in a brown field
Farming in dry conditions

Information and tools to assist with on-farm business management and production issues during dry conditions and periods of business stress.

Overview

Generally, Alberta relies on melting snow and precipitation for most of its water. Droughts are prolonged periods of dry weather that deplete water resources, including:

  • natural sources (rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, groundwater)
  • constructed storage (reservoirs and dugouts)
  • irrigation canals
  • soil moisture

In the past 120 years, 5 major droughts have occurred across the Canadian Prairies. Starting in 1929 with the “Dust Bowl”, multi-year droughts also occurred in the 1980s and the early 2000s.

Current conditions

Alberta is experiencing drought in many parts of the province due to a below average snowpack in winter 2022-23, which meant less runoff filling rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and below average precipitation in most areas during the spring and summer. This is contributing to water shortage in some parts of the province, especially in southern Alberta.

Blue water body surrounded by land, rocks and dirt

Boat launch at the Oldman Reservoir Public Recreation Area

Oldman provincial recreation area boat launch - rocky and sandy area with vehicles in the background

Boat launch at the Oldman Reservoir Public Recreation Area

Boat launch ramp on a rocky area with hills and water in the background

Boat launch at the Island View day use area on the Oldman Reservoir

Cowley water intakes, Oldman River - River surrounded by flat green land with clouds and mountains in the background

Oldman River at the west end of the Oldman Reservoir. The pipes on either side of the water are the intakes for the Cowley regional drinking water system. These intakes have been out of the water since July 2023.

View from a bridge of the Crowsnest river surrounded by flat green land with evergreen trees along the side

Crowsnest River at Highway 510

Oldman Reservoir - silt plain with the river running through it

Oldman Reservoir – silt plain with the river running through it

Oldman River Dam Provincial Recreation Area - water surrounded by rocks and dirt, wind turbines in the distance

Oldman River Dam Provincial Recreation Area near Windy Point

St. Mary’s Reservoir from the boat launch dock - view looking down from wooden staircase down at the St. Mary's reservoir in the distance

St. Mary’s Reservoir from the boat launch dock

Willow Creek surrounded by rocks and trees

Willow Creek near Fort McLeod

Alberta is currently in water shortage management stage 4 (out of 5), where multiple water management areas are impacted by water shortage. Visit:

Alberta’s government is monitoring conditions and working closely with water users and local governments to help manage and conserve water where possible.

For updates on current conditions in specific rivers or basins, visit:

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